Shingles

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How are CVS Pharmacy® and MinuteClinic® different?

At Pharmacy, vaccinations for adolescents through seniors are administered by a certified immunizing pharmacist. Age and state restrictions apply. No appointment necessary.

At MinuteClinic, vaccinations for children (18 months and older in most states) through seniors are administered by a medical provider. View wait times and schedule a visit online, or walk-in anytime.

CVS Pharmacy and MinuteClinic also at Target

Nearly 1 in 3 adults will develop shingles during their lifetime.

Shingles (Herpes Zoster)

Availability: CVS Pharmacy

What is shingles?

Shingles, also called Herpes Zoster, is a painful skin rash that often appears on one side of the face or body and typically lasts from 2 to 4 weeks. Other symptoms can include fever, headache, chills and upset stomach.

Shingles is caused by the same virus (Varicella Zoster) that causes chickenpox. Only those who have had chickenpox — or in rare instances the chickenpox vaccine — can get shingles. Even after recovering from chickenpox, the virus stays inactive only to reactivate years later for reasons not fully understood.

What does "Most insurance accepted" mean?

It means we accept over 5,000 health plans for vaccinations. Your out-of-pocket cost, if any, will depend on your specific insurance plan.

Who should get vaccinated?

Because the risk of shingles increases for older adults, a single dose of shingles vaccine is recommended for people 60 years of age and older. Even those who have had shingles can still receive the shingles vaccine to help prevent repeat occurrences. The vaccine is also recommended for those that have had chicken pox.

Who should NOT get vaccinated or should wait?

A person should not get the shingles vaccine who:

Ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to gelatin, the antibiotic neomycin, or any other component of shingles vaccine. Tell your doctor if you have any severe allergies.

Has a weakened immune system because of current health conditions or treatments.

Is pregnant, or might be pregnant. Women should not become pregnant until at least 4 weeks after getting shingles vaccine.

Anyone with a moderate or severe acute illness should usually wait until they recover before getting the vaccine. This includes anyone with a temperature of 101.3°F or higher.

Someone with a minor acute illness, such as a cold, may be vaccinated.

What about side effects?

No serious problems have been identified with shingles vaccine.
Mild side effects could include: